Here is a recap of the most interesting questions and answers (in my opinion). I put answers in two categories: Anything to do with Future Books and Advice on Writing.
You can find out about future Facebook chat's with John on his Facebook page (John Grisham).
FUTURE BOOKS:
Helen: What's your next book going to be about?
Eva: Please continue to write for young adults, choices are limited. Perhaps encourage your favorite authors to write young adult books as well.
John Grisham Thanks. Writers are a prickly bunch and it would not work if I passed along any suggestions.
Thomas: I love the books. What about a sequel to the street Lawyer?
John Grisham Thanks. I don't have an idea yet for that sequel.
Dave: Will you do any similar story to a painted house
John Grisham Maybe. Yes. I would like to continue with that family (my family) as Luke grows up in the sixties.
Christi: Will you ever have female as a main character? FEMALE ATTORNEY?
John Grisham Funny you should ask. The legal thriller I'm writing now has a female attorney as the main character.
Linda: Do you plan to pen a sequel to Sycamore Row?
John Grisham That would be a tough sequel. I'll probably go back to Ford County and write another novel with Jake as the hero, but not for a few years.
ADVICE TO WRITERS:
Joshua: Any advice to a young aspiring authors?
John Grisham Read, read, read, and write at least one page each day
Quincy: Can you give a quick overview of the process of developing the book, as in the character development/storyline?
John Grisham It all starts with an idea, then progresses to the point of seeing the opening (the hook), the middle half, then a compelling ending. If and when that works, and it seldom does, then I actually begin writing something - an outline. The outline is tedious, but I can't write a novel without. The characters come along and fit the plot, not the other way around.
Sharon: Are your books based on people you know?
John Grisham No. I don't want to get sued.
Marge: where did you get your most memorable story idea?
John Grisham The Innocent Man, from an obituary in The New York Times. It stopped me cold and I knew instantly I would write the book.
Ashley: What is the process you go through when writing your amazing stories?
John Grisham I spend a lot of time planning and plotting before I actually start writing.
Ernie: Too many posts to peruse, so not sure if you've answered this yet. Where do you get the character's names?
John Grisham It's always a challenge because each novel has about 200 names. After 30 books, it gets more complicated. Phone books; obituaries; football programs; box scores. I once wrote a book in which the first 20 characters were all major league second basemen before 1940. They're all dead so they can't sue.
Cody: What was your inspiration for Bleachers? That story played out true in my life too.
John Grisham I was jogging one night around the local football field and there was a group of ex jocks sitting together re-living their glory years. One thing led to another...
Steven: How hard is it to no be "repetitive" or use ideas that you have used before - or maybe even have forgotten you have used before?
John Grisham I worry about the David versus Goliath elements in some of my books. Frankly, though, there are too many good stories out there about lawyers, trials, law firms, etc.
Brian: What or who inspired you to become a writer?
John Grisham A trial I witnessed inspired me to create the story that became A Time To Kill, which didn't sell at first. The success of the next book, The Firm, allowed me to close the law office and write full time.
Karen: What was your most emotionally taxing novel to write?
John Grisham Tough question, but I'd say the first one. I still cannot re read the first chapter of A Time To Kill. I didn't have a daughter when I wrote that, almost thirty years ago.
James: What was ur most favorite book to write
John Grisham I didn't want to finish Sycamore Row, and it was already too long. Playing For Pizza was a hoot because I hung out in Italy with some of those football players. We ate non stop and I gained 15 pounds. Skipping Christmas made me laugh, still does. The Innocent Man was fascinating to research.
Helen: What's your next book going to be about?
John Grisham A legal thriller (surprise) but not one from Ford County. It will probably be an "issue" story, a novel wrapped around an issue that has me ticked off these days.
John Grisham Thanks. Writers are a prickly bunch and it would not work if I passed along any suggestions.
Thomas: I love the books. What about a sequel to the street Lawyer?
John Grisham Thanks. I don't have an idea yet for that sequel.
Dave: Will you do any similar story to a painted house
John Grisham Maybe. Yes. I would like to continue with that family (my family) as Luke grows up in the sixties.
Christi: Will you ever have female as a main character? FEMALE ATTORNEY?
John Grisham Funny you should ask. The legal thriller I'm writing now has a female attorney as the main character.
Linda: Do you plan to pen a sequel to Sycamore Row?
John Grisham That would be a tough sequel. I'll probably go back to Ford County and write another novel with Jake as the hero, but not for a few years.
Joshua: Any advice to a young aspiring authors?
John Grisham Read, read, read, and write at least one page each day
Quincy: Can you give a quick overview of the process of developing the book, as in the character development/storyline?
John Grisham It all starts with an idea, then progresses to the point of seeing the opening (the hook), the middle half, then a compelling ending. If and when that works, and it seldom does, then I actually begin writing something - an outline. The outline is tedious, but I can't write a novel without. The characters come along and fit the plot, not the other way around.
Sharon: Are your books based on people you know?
John Grisham No. I don't want to get sued.
Marge: where did you get your most memorable story idea?
John Grisham The Innocent Man, from an obituary in The New York Times. It stopped me cold and I knew instantly I would write the book.
Ashley: What is the process you go through when writing your amazing stories?
John Grisham I spend a lot of time planning and plotting before I actually start writing.
Ernie: Too many posts to peruse, so not sure if you've answered this yet. Where do you get the character's names?
John Grisham It's always a challenge because each novel has about 200 names. After 30 books, it gets more complicated. Phone books; obituaries; football programs; box scores. I once wrote a book in which the first 20 characters were all major league second basemen before 1940. They're all dead so they can't sue.
Cody: What was your inspiration for Bleachers? That story played out true in my life too.
John Grisham I was jogging one night around the local football field and there was a group of ex jocks sitting together re-living their glory years. One thing led to another...
Steven: How hard is it to no be "repetitive" or use ideas that you have used before - or maybe even have forgotten you have used before?
John Grisham I worry about the David versus Goliath elements in some of my books. Frankly, though, there are too many good stories out there about lawyers, trials, law firms, etc.
Brian: What or who inspired you to become a writer?
John Grisham A trial I witnessed inspired me to create the story that became A Time To Kill, which didn't sell at first. The success of the next book, The Firm, allowed me to close the law office and write full time.
Karen: What was your most emotionally taxing novel to write?
John Grisham Tough question, but I'd say the first one. I still cannot re read the first chapter of A Time To Kill. I didn't have a daughter when I wrote that, almost thirty years ago.
James: What was ur most favorite book to write
John Grisham I didn't want to finish Sycamore Row, and it was already too long. Playing For Pizza was a hoot because I hung out in Italy with some of those football players. We ate non stop and I gained 15 pounds. Skipping Christmas made me laugh, still does. The Innocent Man was fascinating to research.
I used to love his books, but they're not as good now as his earlier works.
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